£60,426 for fall at work

A court has awarded £60,426 in compensation to a kitchen assistant who was injured after a fall at work. The woman was startled by noises and lights from a faulty hot drinks vending machine causing her to jump backwards. She broke her hip and right wrist and spent 10 weeks in hospital and still needs a stick to walk. Her employer was found to have been at fault for breaching health and safety operations by operating faulty machinery. The damages award included £20,000 for pain and suffering and £30,000 for past and future wage loss.